On Saturday morning I was on my way home by 7:30AM. I had decided to sing in the memorial choir for the celebration of life service for my former principal and friend Steve Frederick. Davis Giersch, conductor of the choir, recommended going through the line at 11:00 so that we'd have plenty of time to get through and make our 12:30 rehearsal of the 5 songs we were singing. I had been practicing the two songs I didn't know well on the way home from the beach. I got home at about 9:30, practiced with the piano for a while, and dressed for the event, leaving for the high school before 11:00.
I actually met Nancy B. in the receiving line, and we caught up during the 40 minutes it took to meet the family. I had seen Steve, his wife, and daughter Steph (who graduated with Sam) at Henning's on a number of occasions, so I reminded them of those times, and we laughed a little.
I went to the audion and met up with Donna Hill, a woman with whom I'd done a few plays in the early '80s. We chatted until the rehearsal began. The choir was comprised of so many talented singers that the rehearsal went really well, and I had plenty of time to hit the ladies room before going to the auditorium for the service. We sang 4 songs right at the beginning and then a benediction at the end.
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| Sean Burns and Matt Klenk are in the foreground - I'm at the left, and a great picture of Steve fills the screen behind us. |
The service was long because of all the music and speakers, but it was a lovely celebration of a caring, funny, talented music teacher and principal. I think it's awesome that I was hired by a musician/principal who continued to be involved in conducting, playing, and singing (he and Frank sang in a few concerts together) until the very end of his life.
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